A fire on board a New Jersey-bound United Airlines plane prompted it to return to San Diego International Airport on Tuesday morning, and four people were taken to a hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation, authorities said.
Flight 2664 was heading to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey when a passenger's external battery pack caught fire shortly after takeoff, authorities said.
The crew placed the battery in a special fire bag, which prevented it from spreading, and the Boeing 737 returned safely to the airport at around 7:30 a.m., Pacific Time (1030 a.m. EST/1430GMT) authorities said.
Four passengers were treated for smoke inhalation at a hospital, UC San Diego Health said in a statement.
Several flight attendants were taken to the hospital as a precaution, United Airlines said in a statement that thanked crew members "for their quick actions in prioritizing the safety of everyone on board."
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Two other people declined to be taken to the hospital, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department said.
The remaining passengers departed for New Jersey aboard a second plane at about 11:45 a.m., KSWB-TV reported.
The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the incident.
Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in electronic devices but also have been known to overheat and cause fires. Airlines permit them on carry-on luggage but not in checked bags.
In December, a Lufthansa flight from Los Angeles to Germany was diverted to Chicago after a laptop caught fire on board.
Also in December, a JetBlue plane from Barbados to New York was evacuated in New York after a fire that may have started with a battery, authorities said. More than 160 passengers were evacuated using emergency slides. Five received minor injuries.
A fire sparked by a lithium-ion e-bike battery injured more than three dozen people in New York last November.
Additional reporting by The Associated Press.
